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Preparing for the worst

By David Hambling

SOME experts fear that terrorists are trying to develop thermobaric and fuel-air bombs which can be even more devastating than conventional devices.

The Canadian defence research and development agency DRDC is taking the threat so seriously that it is testing thermobaric devices itself in an attempt to develop defences against them. And the US Marine Corps is using computerised war games to devise tactics that could help minimise casualties if insurgents in countries such as Iraq use thermobaric weapons in attacks.

The devices use a small charge to generate a cloud of explosive mixed with air. The …